In a decisive move to confront Punjab’s drug crisis by reviving its sporting ethos, the government led by Bhagwant Mann on Monday approved the launch of the Punjab Cricket League (PCL)—envisioned not as a symbolic outreach, but as a structured, long-term intervention to empower youth through sport.
Modelled on the Indian Premier League, the PCL will feature district- and region-based teams and be organised in collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Punjab Cricket Association. The league aims to systematically scout, train and channel young talent into professional pathways, while also catalysing a broader ecosystem of district- and state-level competitions across multiple sports—steering Punjab’s youth away from drugs and towards discipline, opportunity and national representation.
Sharing highlights from a review meeting in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said the focus was on rebuilding a statewide sports culture. Senior officials of the Department of Sports and Youth Services were directed to intensify efforts to draw young people back to playgrounds, with the larger objective of building a healthy and fit society. “The government is consistently working to restore Punjab’s sporting tradition,” he noted.
Chairing the Sports Department review, Mann reiterated that the PCL would be organised in partnership with the PCA and the BCCI to groom talent from every corner of the state. Drawing on global precedents, he observed that similar initiatives had transformed cricketing nations. Referring to examples such as Imran Khan and Arjuna Ranatunga, he said structured leagues had helped produce world-class players—and expressed confidence that the PCL would position Punjab as a nursery of cricketing talent.
Outlining the format, the Chief Minister said the league would mirror the IPL structure, with teams formed on district lines and across regions such as Majha, Doaba and Malwa. He added that the PCL would create a robust pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
At the same time, Mann stressed the need to expand the sporting push beyond cricket. He called for district- and state-level leagues in Volleyball, Football, Hockey, Basketball, Kho kho and Kabaddi, underscoring an aggressive campaign to train the maximum number of sportspersons. “Our goal,” he said, “is to see more Punjabi athletes representing India on the international stage.” 
Team PT
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